simple things

YOUR “BANK” ACCOUNT


A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed
Each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and
Shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing
Home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move
necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the
Nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual
Description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been
Hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having
Just been presented with a new puppy.

'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room

or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my

mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I

wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I

have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be

thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and

all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account

of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.'

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

herein lies my problem...
...sometimes i carry dislike (hatred is so harsh a word) in my heart

...often i fill my mind with worry...could be why i have sleeping problems

...even though i intend to live simply, i complicate my life on a regular basis...why exactly? and how does that happen?

...i give too much sometimes and cost myself time, money, and a plethora of other things along the way...mostly i don't regret giving, but i may need to spread it out a bit or something...i don't know...i get so much pleasure in the giving...there is joy there...happiness for sure!

...expecting less...hmmm...now there is a tough-y...i don't expect a lot from many...but those i depend on, well...i may expect a lot from them. too much? not sure about that...you would have to ask them that.

so i'm good at 1 or 2 of the list of 5. guess i need to spend time expecting less, living more simply and freeing my mind of worry. i love the thought of waking up expecting it to be a good day.

"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time."

"It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it."

"Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away."